Picturing the Past 194: Milner's

Milner's store, pictured in probably the 1940s or 1950s. (Photo submitted by Lee Shelton)

One of the signs in this photo contributed by Lee Shelton says "O.A. Milner" and another says "Milner's One Stop" (rest is covered). A sign in front advertises paint and a sign in the window advertiser Downyflake donuts, so apparently Milner's sold practically everything -- sort of like Handy Dandy Market was to later generations.

Go here for a larger view.

Where was Milner's? It's before my time, so someone's going to have to fill in that blank. These buildings looked to me like those along North Main Street as late as the 1970s or 1980s where Shelbyville Lumber Co. is today. But I found a photo of the old Nichols Furniture (in a previous PTP blog), which was in one of those buildings, and it's not the same.

I remember hearing that the grocery store located as late as the 1970s across Madison Street from Evans Street (the area that's now the front of the Roses parking parking lot) was originally Milner's. Was this store moved to the Madison building at some point? Speaking of that area of Madison, if you're over a certain age you remember when houses lined both sides of the street where Roses shopping center and the Celebration main entrance are now (as late as the late 1970s).

I've heard people mention the Milner name over the years. Google O.A. Milner and you find a 1940 census listing showing the family lived on the square in 1940 and his occupation was listed as "groceryman." There's also an existing subdivision listed on real estate records as "O.A. Milner subdivision," though it's not actually called by that name anymore.

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